Back Row Attacking!

By: Coach Dede Bodnar•Played competitively since I was 5 years old.•Coached 28 years•USA Olympic Committee: “ Developmental Coach of The Year” (1998)•USA Volleyball: “Outstanding Female Coach of the Year” (1998)•All-American (California Polytechnic State University)•Professor and Head Volleyball Coach

–San Diego City College•Coaching Experience - Coached Professional Beach Volleyball(6 years), Liz Masakayan & Elaine Youngs Liz Masakayan & Angela Rock - Collegiate (17 years), - High school (5 years), - Club (23 years), - Junior high (4 years), - Elementary school players (3 years).

*email address: dbodnar@sdccd.net Page 1

Evolution of the Back Row Hitter Japanese System of Attack:

Developing a multiple-timed attack

Developing the multiple-approach attack

Olympic Teams Incorporated the Back Row Attack (Steve Timmons-1988 and

women’s USA team-1988) and then from there it moved down through collegiate, club, high school etc…

Back Row Attacker Became a Part of Team Offense As an outlet As the primary hitter Part of the play action

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What Are Your Teams Needs?

Will your team benefit from having a back row hitter?

Does your setter know when to set the back row?

Do you have a “weak” setter who can’t push the ball the length of the court?

Do you have a “star” or “power-player” that your team should give more sets?

Other opportunities?

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Evaluating Your Players Ball control

Back row attacker should be able to use lot of top spin on attacks.

Your team can have a greater advantage on back row attacking if you back row attacker can put the ball into right back (setter’s) corner or deep left back corner.

Other keys elements to ball control for the back row attack are the following:

The attacker can attack the ball all the while keeping it in front of them.

The attacker can “keep the ball in play.” Jumping ability

This helps because it becomes more intimidating for the opponent; however, if the attacker has great ball control it can be just as important.

The Setter The setter can “lead” the back row attacker. The setter has

accurate location in order to set the ball in each of the designated areas: A, B, pipe- C or D.

The setter knows who your strongest player is and knows when your team may need to get the ball to them when they are in the back row.

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Basic Offensive Plays Incorporating the Back Row Attack

4 3 5 4 3

B-Pipe C or D

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Note: the backrow “names” can vary. Some other common names are Red, White Blue, etc…

More Offensive Plays Incorporating the Back Row Attack

1 5 4 slide

A B-Pipe

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Back Row Hitting Summary• Find an open gap for the back row hitter

• Lead the hitter – set on or in-front of the 3 meter line

• Broken plays

•The setter needs to know when to push the outside sets or when to set a back row attack. Setter should know their own limitations as well as the limitations of their team.

•If another player must step in to set the ball they need to know when how to set the back row attack and who to set for the back row attack.

• Hitters should attack with “TOP-SPIN”

•Hitting Options:

•Tip/off-speed to the middle of the court

•Hit to Right back (Setters Corner)

•Keep it in

• How to incorporate the back row attack

• When your team runs a 5-1 and your setter is front row

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